Midland dominated the play against West in the first half, controlling the midfield. The Chemics started in a 3-3-4 but adjusted to a 3-4-3 early in the game.

Midland had beaten West 6-1 earlier this season, but the Titans were playing without striker Joelyn Dobrowolski in that one, and she played Saturday. Chemics coach Rico Barassi also was concerned with West’s quick-strike capability. West had scored four goals in 20 minutes against Traverse City Central to win 7-3 in Thursday’s district semifinal.

“We started with four back, because they had a player back (in the lineup),” Barassi said. “Makenzie (Rajewski) was our only center midfielder, then we moved Carlee (Davis) up to assist her. That created room for (Rajewski), and she kept attacking. The girls came out attacking.

“(West) only had one day of rest,” Barassi added, “and we thought that would be a factor.”

West coach Chelsea Avery acknowledged her team was on its heels from the beginning.

“We came out flat,” Avery said. “(Midland) plays quickly, a fast-paced game. They made us watch. They have a lot of individual talent that made plays.”

“We fought really hard,” Rajewski said. “We pressured them really high. We played well as a team. We have some strong all-around players. They were good at turning and switching the field.”

Rajewski and Midland had established control of the game when the Chemics broke through to make it 1-0 13 minutes in.

In what was a theme for the day, Davis cleared a long ball attempt by West, which led to a goal kick at the other end. Midland intercepted the goal kick and forced back-to-back throw-ins deep in the corner.

Junior Katelyn Herman made good on her cartwheel throw to the box, which Rajewski headed in.

Davis consistently stopped West before they could get a shot or scoring attempt throughout the game.

“She’s a great player,” Barassi said. “She’s solid in the back.”

In a key moment just 2 minutes after the first goal, Midland sophomore goalkeeper Maya Etienne stopped a point-blank chance by West’s Maddi Parker to keep the 1-0 lead. West created the chance from a direct kick at 33 yards into the box. That was West’s only shot on goal in the first half.

“If you let a quick goal in, it will change the dynamics,” Barassi said. “Not only one goal, but don’t even let them breathe. They were fast, and we tried to neutralize them.”

Sophomore Ellie Wardell put the Chemics up 2-0 20 minutes into the game with a nice move around West goalkeeper Yuliya Norolska. Sophomore Jorgia Nye set her up with a long pass into the box.

Midland kept the pressure on, even when Rajewski left the field of play winded with 8:30 left in the half. The Chemics substituted liberally throughout the game. Davis stopped a through ball by West, and the Chemics survived some midfield control by the Titans.

Then Nye forced a corner kick with 3:15 left in the half, and Rajewski re-entered the game ... and ran unchecked into the box awaiting the corner.

Senior Jessie Brown placed the corner perfectly to Rajewski on the back post, who connected for her second header goal and a 3-0 Midland lead with 2:45 left in the half.

“There was no one on me,” Rajewski said. “It was exciting. My team has been good connecting with me on corners (in recent games).”

Midland connected for another goal with 22.2 seconds left in the half to make it 4-0.

Again, Davis stopped a long ball attempt by West, countered with her own long ball that went for a goal kick. Again, Brown stole the goal kick and passed it to the box, where Nye knocked it in.

“I told the girls, ‘They have a field player taking the goal kick. Park yourself at the 18-yard line,’” Barassi said. “Today, we were prolific scoring.”

The pace of the game slowed in the second half as Midland relaxed and substituted. Shots on goal were 9-4 for the game (3-2 West in the second half).

“After we were four up, we eased back to conserve (for Tuesday’s game),” Barassi said.

West took advantage quickly and forced its only corner of the game just 1:20 into the half.

But Midland rallied for one more goal with 28:29 remaining. Rajewski converted another Herman throw-in deep in the corner, this one touched once by senior Emily Kreusch to Rajewski for the one-touch goal, hat trick and 5-0 lead.

Midland’s pace slowed even more from there as West picked it up. But Etienne made three key plays to keep West off the scoreboard.

With 23 minutes to play, West had four players forward for the only time in the game, and MacKenna DeVries made a nice move around the defense in the box. But Etienne came out agressively to challenge her and forced a shot wide. Etienne then made a diving save on a shot from 25 yards with 17:30 to play, and stopped Dobrowolski in the box with 13:15 to play and scrambled to cover the rebound.

“In the second half, we did much better,” Avery said. “I think we had a lot of opportunites. I’m glad we had a lot of chances.”

Midland had just enough energy to finish it off.

“We’ve seen in previous years and games, they can still come back,” Rajewski said. “We needed to keep up the intensity.”

Midland now gets a rematch with Grand Blanc, which beat the Chemics 2-0 earlier this season.

“We were off that day,” Barassi said. “It was an even game. We gave up a far post goal, and the goalkeeper dropped one.